Germany sent rocket-propelled grenades to Saudi Arabia to swing 2006 World Cup vote as fresh letter emerges implicating South African officials in $10m bribe scandal...

The German government sent a shipment of rocket-propelled grenades to Saudi Arabia in order to secure support for their bid to host the 2006 World Cup, according to the latest sensational claims in the FIFA scandal.

German newspaper Die Zeit say the country's Football Association arranged for then Chancellor Gerhard Schroder's administration to supply the arms in order to swing the Saudi vote from Morocco to Germany ahead of the vote in 2000.

It helped tip the knife-edge vote in Germany's favour as they defeated South Africa 12-11 in the final round and duly hosted the World Cup finals six years later.

The shipment of RPGs was part of a concerted effort by German politicians and business leaders to persuade the members of FIFA's executive committee to vote for them, Die Zeit report.

German firms Volkswagen and Bayer promised higher investment in Thailand and South Korea, while Daimler invested 100m euros (£73m) in South Korean motor company Hyundai. Full story...

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